New South Jetty is out

Here’s the text of a Port Aransas child’s letter to Santa Claus this year: “Santa do you know how it feels to go throu a hurucane? Am I on the noty or nice list? For Christmas I want 100 doller bill sence I have no room for toys right now in the r.v.” The letter was written by Torren Coonrod, […]

Crowning glory

Tina Groseclose, left, and Vanessa Coonrod, both of Port Aransas, place an angel atop one of the Christmas trees that were being decorated at the Enchanted Holiday Forest in the Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 16. The forest now is finished, and the public may view it. (Details and more photos are in this edition.)

Big bills

$15 million+ required for damage to PAISD


Hurricane Harvey repairs are expected to exceed $15 million at Port Aransas ISD, according to school officials. The district has received $10 million total from insurance, leaving the district to make up for more than $5 million, if insurance does not come up with more funds. “We have received money from insurance, but we still have a way to go,” […]

Drive helps Port Aransas kids

More than 160 Port Aransas kids were recipients of Christmas presents because of donations to the annual Emergency Services Toy Roundup. The Roundup has provided toys at Christmas for needy Port Aransas families for more than 20 years. This year the organizers only collected monetary donations, which were then used to purchase gift cards specifically for each family who applied […]

Holidays mean early deadlines

The South Jetty will go to press as usual around Christmas and New Year’s days, but early deadlines are necessary in order to give staff time off for the holidays. Noon Thursday, Dec. 21, is the deadline for news, advertising, columns and letters to the editor to be published in the Dec. 28 edition. The South Jetty office will close […]

Sweetness for salty islanders

Christmas cookie deliveries cheer up Harvey victims


Day after day, Sheri Hargrove and a few friends have driven all over Port Aransas, delivering home-baked cookies as Christmas gifts to dozens of folks. They aren’t paid anything to do it. They don’t even know a lot of the cookie recipients. They bring folks cookies just because they want to inject a little happiness into people’s post-Hurricane Harvey lives, […]

Spooning it up

Port Aransas City Hall administration held a Christmas party for staff at the Civic Center on Friday, Dec. 15. From left, City Facilities Coordinator Sylvia Cortez, City Manager Dave Parsons and Police Chief Scott Burroughs serve lunch to JoLeta Gavit, former president of the Friends of the Library, and Geene Pavelec, aide at the Ellis Memorial Library.

Enchanted holiday

View ‘Heart of Port A’ forest through Sunday

Holiday spirit fills the Community Center at 408 N. Alister St. Stop in and view the annual Enchanted Holiday Forest, where organizations, individuals, families and businesses have decorated Christmas trees to reflect the “Heart of Port A” theme. While there, make sure and see the “America Honors and Remembers Tree, decorated with photos and names of Port Aransas-related service members […]

Municipal facilities set to close for Christmas

City Hall as well as other municipal facilities will close in observance of the Christmas holiday. The City of Port Aransas business offices and Municipal Court will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday, Dec 26. Police and EMS workers will be on duty; however, administrative offices will be closed. The Community Aquatic Center facility will be closed on […]

Stuff to do and see

Parks and
Rec
Roundup

The following are upcoming events and activities sponsored by the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department. For more information or to register for events, call 749-4158. See the Island Agenda on this page for recurring weekly events. Activities This Week Enchanted Holiday Forest Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 21-23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., viewing. Sunday, Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., viewing at Community Center, […]